Alfred Allen, Baron Allen of Fallowfield
Encyclopedia
Alfred Walter Henry Allen, Baron Allen of Fallowfield CBE
(7 July 1914 – 14 January 1985) was a British unionist and governor of the BBC
.
Born in Bristol
, he was educated at East Bristol School and worked then for the Bristol Co-operative Society until 1940, when he joined the Royal Air Force
. After the end of the Second World War in 1945, Allen left the Force as a sergeant and was chosen an area organiser of the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers in the year thereafter. Following its merger into the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
in 1947, he became a national officer in 1951. Allen was elected the Union's general secretary in 1962, a post he held for seventeen years until 1979. In the Birthday's Honours 1967, he was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
.
Allen was a member of the general council of the Trades Union Congress
and in 1974 was nominated its president. On 10 July of the latter year, he was created a life peer
with the title Baron Allen of Fallowfield, of Fallowfield, in Greater Manchester
. In 1977, Allen served in the Board of Governors of the BBC
.
In 1940, he married Ruby Millicent Hounsell and had by her a son and a daughter.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(7 July 1914 – 14 January 1985) was a British unionist and governor of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Born in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, he was educated at East Bristol School and worked then for the Bristol Co-operative Society until 1940, when he joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. After the end of the Second World War in 1945, Allen left the Force as a sergeant and was chosen an area organiser of the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers in the year thereafter. Following its merger into the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers is a trade union in the United Kingdom. Consisting of over 405,000 members, USDAW is the UK's fourth largest and fastest growing trade union. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade...
in 1947, he became a national officer in 1951. Allen was elected the Union's general secretary in 1962, a post he held for seventeen years until 1979. In the Birthday's Honours 1967, he was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Allen was a member of the general council of the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
and in 1974 was nominated its president. On 10 July of the latter year, he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
with the title Baron Allen of Fallowfield, of Fallowfield, in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
. In 1977, Allen served in the Board of Governors of the BBC
Board of Governors of the BBC
The Board of Governors of the BBC was the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It consisted of twelve people who together regulated the BBC and represented the interests of the public. It existed from 1927 until it was replaced by the BBC Trust on 1 January 2007.The governors...
.
In 1940, he married Ruby Millicent Hounsell and had by her a son and a daughter.